BUILDERS are set to start transforming a former hotel into Kemp Hospice's new enlarged day care centre in July.

Construction was scheduled to have started already and campaign manager John Fletcher put the delay down to difficulties in obtaining planning permission for new houses at the present Sutton Park Road base before it could be sold to a developer.

Up to £1 million will be made from the sale of the site - which will accommodate nine houses - to fund building work at the former Cedars Hotel on Mason Road.

The closing date for tenders was yesterday.

"What the trustees have said is they don't want to spend money on starting refurbishment until they know they've got the money in the bank," said Mr Fletcher.

He added the money from the sale will be available next month and architects will then draw up detailed plans for the work at Mason Road.

"We hope we can actually see refurbishment get underway by the end of July," said Mr Fletcher.

He said planning permission for the Sutton Park Road redevelopment had been delayed from December to March following residents' objections and tree preservation orders.

But Mr Fletcher stressed: "Things are moving increasing rapidly now."

The hospice's new home will house a day care centre for about 18 patients with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses - six more than at present. An in-patient unit and overnight accommodation for patients' relatives will follow.